Korean slang profile
부캐
bukae
An alternate character or persona
A character created in addition to a main game character. In everyday life and popular culture, it can mean an alternate identity or side of a person.
- Expanded form
- 부 캐릭터An alternate character or persona
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- May 31, 2020
- Documented trend period
- Not verified
This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.
01Examples, with English translations
- Example by Julimmal
평소엔 직장인인데 주말엔 부캐로 활동해.
I'm an office worker during the week, but on weekends I take on another persona.
- Quoted from a source
부캐는 부(副)캐릭터의 줄임말로 이젠 하나의 현상이다.[1]
부캐 is an abbreviation for secondary character and is now a phenomenon.
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
- May 2020부캐 is an abbreviation for secondary character and is now a phenomenon.[1]
- June 2020Aju Economy: “부캐 is an abbreviation that combines the characters ‘副’, which means ‘next’ or ‘second’.”[2]
- June 2021Newsis: “부캐 is an abbreviation for ‘secondary character’ that originated in the game and refers to a different identity from the main character, ‘본캐’.”[3]
03Origin & word formation
Short for “부 캐릭터.” The 2020 source from Newsis explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.
Evidence for the origin explanationHigh
The explanation is explicit in the sources, and at least two sources use the same meaning. When it was first used is unknown.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 유산슬 이어 '서울왔어효'까지…부캐, 예능 넘어 가요계 들썩 (뉴시스)Published May 31, 2020Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
- [기획] 본캐보다 센 부캐, 연예계 강타한 '부캐의 세계' (아주경제)Published Jun 3, 2020Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
- 신성장동력으로 자리잡은 식품·외식업계 '부캐' 열풍 (뉴시스)Published Jun 17, 2021Original source checked Nov 5, 2026